Who should not take COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin according to Bharat Biotech?

New Delhi: Two days after India began the world's largest vaccination drive against Covid-19, vaccine-maker Bharat Biotech warned in a fact sheet about who should avoid taking Covaxin shot.

The vaccine maker in the fact sheet on Covaxin, posted in its website, said the clinical efficacy of the vaccine is yet to be established and is being studied in Phase 3 clinical trial and hence it is important to appreciate that receiving the vaccine does not mean other precautions related to Covid-19 need not be followed.

On January 16, India started vaccinating lakhs using two Covid-19 vaccines - the indigenously made Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine Covishield produced by Serum Institute of India. Ahead of the vaccination drive, the Union Health Ministry had released a comparative fact sheet for both the vaccines, their contraindications and minor adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs).

The ministry had asked pregnant and lactating women to not take the Covid-19 vaccine. It had also stated that anyone who has had an anaphylactic or allergic reaction to a previous dose of Covid-19 vaccine (during trials) should not receive the vaccine.

As 580 cases of AEFI have been reported so far with seven requiring hospitalisation, here's a look at Bharat Biotech's fact sheet on who should not take Covaxin shot:

1. Those who have weaker immunity or are on a medicine that affects their immune system must not take the Covaxin shot.

2. People who have a history of allergies, those who have a fever, those who have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner must not be injected with Covaxin.

3. Pregnant and lactating women, and those with any other serious health-related issues must not be administered Covaxin.

4. Even the ones who have received another Covid-19 vaccine, should not be given Covaxin shot.

Bharat Biotech has warned such recipients of severe allergic reaction that may include difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face and throat, fast heart-beat, rashes all over the body, dizziness and weakness.

It also urged those receiving its Covid-19 vaccine to disclose their medical conditions, medicines they are taking and allergies.

4. Even the ones who have received another Covid-19 vaccine, should not be given Covaxin shot.

Bharat Biotech has warned such recipients of severe allergic reaction that may include difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face and throat, fast heart-beat, rashes all over the body, dizziness and weakness.

It also urged those receiving its Covid-19 vaccine to disclose their medical conditions, medicines they are taking and allergies.